What is the Pituitary Gland?

The pituitary is a small gland that hangs from the hypothalamus, at the base of the brain. It controls hormones in the body that directly or indirectly affect most of your body's activities, including growth, metabolism, the stress response, and functions of the sex organs via the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, ovaries and testes. 

Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary gland tumors are the most frequent cause of pituitary disorders. The pituitary gland is made of several cell types that occasionally grow too quickly or produce small growths called pituitary tumors, which are fairly common in adults. These are not brain tumors and are not a form of cancer. However, they can make the pituitary gland produce too many hormones, which can cause a wide range of problems in the body. Pituitary tumors often go undiagnosed because their symptoms resemble those of so many other more common diseases.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pituitary gland tumors may include:

• Vision problems
• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Impaired sense of smell
• Growth problems
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Easy bruising
• Early menopause

Other Conditions

Pituitary conditions treated at the INI Pituitary Center include:

• Acromegaly - a syndrome that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH) after puberty, typically resulting in enlargement of the hands, feet, nose, lips, ears, and facial features like the jaw and brow.
• Craniopharyngioma - a type of tumor derived from pituitary gland tissue that is characterized by calcium deposits in the brain.
• Cushing's syndrome - a result of abnormally high ACTH hormones, symptoms include rapid weight gain, particularly on the back of the neck, excess sweating, depression and others.
• Prolactinoma - the most common pituitary tumor, which may cause breast milk production in men or women, as well as disruptions in menstruation and headaches.
• Pituitary adenomas - actual name for tumors that occur in the pituitary gland.

Why Choose the INI?

The INI Pituitary Center features a highly trained, multidisciplinary team from endocrinology, neurosurgery, neuro-ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology (ENT), radiation oncology, neurology, laboratory medicine and pathology to accurately diagnose and treat pituitary tumors. These specialists work together to ensure every patient's case is reviewed for a unified plan of care before beginning treatment.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for pituitary tumors depend on the size and type of tumor, whether it is interfering with the brain structure, optic nerve or carotid arteries, and the patient's overall health. Options include:

• Medication, which may help block excess secretion of hormones and help shrink the tumor.
• Radiation therapy, including external beam radiation treatments or Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, which precisely focuses radiation on the tumor with minimal impact to surrounding brain tissue.
• Surgery, either by removing the tumor through the nose and sinus passages or via an incision at in the upper part of the skull.

To schedule an appointment call the INI Pituitary Clinic at (309) 676-0766 (Hours Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm)

Clinic Location
INI Pituitary Clinic
719 William Kumpf Boulevard
Suite 100
Peoria, IL 61637

Medical Director: Dzung Dinh, MD, MBA